Hey! So, I’m really sorry about the late update, I’ve been busy and school has been driving me crazy, for those of you who have read “Everything I Never Wanted”, you probably know why. Anyway, thank you to my reviewers: samishort, RoseLife, Jill O’Brien, Forget the Fall and silvershadow1379! I really appreciate the comments!

Here’s chapter two, Enjoy:

“I’d like to see you try,” was Jared’s rather cliché reply to that.

As if I hadn’t heard that line before. Seriously, where was the originality? That was my question which I voiced, to which he promptly glared at me before answering, “I’m not about to tell you that I’d like to see you succeed, not only because you can’t, but also because you can’t be better than me, I won’t allow it.”

“You won’t allow it?” I repeated, “Who died and made you king, asshole? In case you didn’t notice, you’re not the coach of this team, nor do you make any decisions about who gets on the team and who doesn’t.” I spat, “and, I highly doubt that you have enough money to bribe Coach Wilson to keep anyone from trying out or making the team. I saw you talking to him earlier, I’m not stupid, I know what you were trying to do. Not only is what you were doing completely illegal, but you’re a complete moron if you think he would accept any kind of bribe from anyone in the first place.”

“Why would I do something like that when I know you won’t make it anyway?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know. I’m not the arrogant pig-headed know-it-who has a bigger ego than a brain. Honestly, you need a reality check, the whole world doesn’t revolve around you or your abnormally large head that really needs to be deflated before you do yourself some permanent damage with your constant lame attempt at insults.”

I heard Thomas Jackson snort for the third time in the span of only about twenty minutes. But, before Jared could yell at him for, once again, finding what I said funny, I beat him to it. While I was flattered that he thought what I said was funny (since, to be honest, I didn’t really think I had much of a sense of humor), his snorts of laughter were getting kind of annoying.

“What is so funny?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at him.

“You’re just so cute when you’re angry.” was the answer I received and it wasn’t one that I was expecting at all. It looked like I wasn’t the only one that was surprised if Jared’s shocked (and angry expression) wasn’t hint enough of his confusion.

Thomas continued talking as if he didn’t notice the shocked expression that passed over both of our faces, “Or… so I’ve been told.” he shrugged.

“Or so you’ve been told?” I ask, “what exactly does that mean?” I asked.

“I would love to tell you, really I would, Victoria… but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Besides, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.”

“Oh really? Try me.” I urged.

Of course, Coach Wilson choice that exact moment to come into the dug out and begin with the usual spiel, welcoming us to a new baseball year, reminding us what our GPA’s had to stay above in order to stay on the team (which was 2.5). Stuff I pretty much already knew since it was the same for the softball team as well. It wasn’t until he got to talking about needing updated health information including a physical that I actually started paying attention which was good since he chose that time to look at me and a few others, “there are a few of you who haven’t given them to me and without them, I can’t let you try out. So, if you haven’t given me them yet, please give them to me now.”

There was movement around the dugout that was way too small to hold the twenty something amount of people that were currently standing in it (not to mention their stuff). I kept running into people as I made my way over to where my bag lay, which Jared happened to be conveniently in front of it, blocking me from actually getting to it. His smirk totally gave away the fact that he very well knew that he was blocking my bag. Asshole.

I glared at him, realizing that there was too much commotion in the small space and that Coach Wilson couldn’t even see us around all the guys who were moving around. Not that it mattered, since he wasn’t even looking our way anyway. Great. Just great. I get to deal with the asshole without any back up from him. I don’t like relying on an adult to get me out of situations, but it was totally different with Jared Peterson, who just loved to piss me off. I really only wanted the adult around because I was afraid that one of these days I might permanently injure him. Not that he wouldn’t deserve it, he totally would. I just would rather not get in trouble for being the one that made it so who could no longer have children (which, by the way, would be a good thing, I don’t like the idea of little Jared clones running around, one is more than enough).

“Are you going to say something or just stand there glaring at me?” his annoying voice knocked me from my inner ramblings. He had an amused smile – though it was more of a smirk really – on his face, his eyes glinted with amusement. The look seemed to be permanently attached to his face since it was the one that he seemed to be wearing every time I saw him.

I bet he wouldn’t be so amused if he knew what I was thinking. Which was me hitting him where the sun don’t shine so hard that he would become sterile. I’d bet he’d just love that. I chuckled slightly at the thought and the look that would pass over his face… one of shock and horror. A new one from his usual I’m-better-than-you expression he liked to wear all the time.

“What’s so funny?”

I ignored him, deciding that now would probably not be the best time to tell him something that would probably scar him, not to mention his friends, for life, “Would you mind getting out of the way so that I can get to my bag?” I asked, attempting to be as nice as possible since I knew he wouldn’t comply otherwise, which was hard because all I wanted to do was smack him. Then again, I don’t even know why I was bothering… whether I was nice or not, he would still be a jerk about it, but I was trying to be the more mature person here. Even if he was a year older than me and it really should be the other way around.

“You mean this bag?” he asked, kicking said bag hard with his cleat-covered foot and leaving a nice imprint on the nice blue cloth.

I lost my battle with the nice manners, “Yes, you moron, do you see any other bag around?” I managed to growl out through gritted teeth.

He tsked me, waging a finger at me like I was a small child, “That’s not very nice.”

I rolled my eyes, “We’ve been over this, Peterson, we’re both not very nice to each other. We have also established that we both have hated each other for several years. Ever since we were in the seventh grade and you –”

He interrupted me, “Hate? Who said anything about hate?” he smirked at my obviously very confused expression.

The innocent response caught me off guard and I was lost for words for a few seconds as I let them sink in. Wondering what he meant by the simple question, but not having time to dwell on it since I needed to get into my bag to get the forms for Coach Wilson.

“Look, can you be an asshole later? I need to get into my bag and I don’t have time for your immature antics.” I asked.

He just smirked at me, “Only if you ask nicely.”

I glared at him, as if I would ever say “please” to him. Plus, I didn’t think he would move even if I said it. Yea, he was that big of a jerk. It still amazes me that any girl could stand to be near him and his cocky, rude self, but, then again… most girls at my school were shallow and petty, all they saw was on the outside, they could careless about what was inside. ITt was kind of sad… and not to mention, really pathetic.

I let out an exasperated sigh before I knelt down in a very uncomfortable position and reached between his legs to get the papers. Completely disgusting, due to how close I was to certain… things, but you know, I needed to get into my bag and if he was going to be an ass about it I was going to have to improvise. Luckily, the papers were in one of the outer pockets and all it took was a simple swipe of the zipper and they were in my hands.

I was about to stand back up when I got a very evil idea. I stood up slowly and “accidentally” hit my head where I had wanted to kick him a little earlier. Which was just plain gross and even though it was a good way of getting Jared back, I don't think I'll ever do it again, at least not with my head.

He let out a surprised grunt and keeled over just as I stood up fully.

“Oops,” I said, innocently, as he glared up at me, “Sorry.”

“You did that on purpose.”

I shrugged, “I’d like to see you prove it. No actually, I thought my head was clear, but it wasn’t,” I shrugged, “So, sorry.” He was still groveling, holding his crotch, “Oh, please… I didn’t hit you that hard.”

“Oh really?” he asked, “How would you like it if I did that to you?”

I stared at him, “Um… hello? Did you fall asleep in health when they went over human anatomy? I don’t have anything down there to hit.”

“Did I say that you did?” he asked, before looking pointedly at my chest. A move that made me want to smack him, but in front of such a crowd, I chose to cross my arms protectively around my body and glare at him instead.

“Yea… didn’t think so,” he said, “That was a low blow, Clark.” He was still looking at my chest as he spoke and it took most of my will power not to smack him for being such a pig, a guy shouldn’t stare at a girl’s chest so long, it’s rude… not to mention disgusting.

“Yea, well, maybe if you moved like I’d asked this wouldn’t have happened.”

“And, maybe if you had asked nicely I would have moved the first time.”

“Why would I be nice to you when you’re not even nice to me?” I asked, “Especially since even if I had asked nicely, you still would have been an ass about it. You’re an asshole to me as well as a quarter of the female population at school, who for some reason I can not fathom still like you. I’m not like them and I will not take crap from you. If and when I make this team, I will not take crap from you then either.” I glanced pointedly down, giving him the silent threat that there were more blows where that one came from if he was ever an ass towards me while we were playing again. “Oh, and I can totally tell you that the next time, it’ll hurt a lot more since I won’t use my head. I’ll use something that would cause a lot more damage.”

I smirked at him before I turned around, but of course, Jared wasn’t about to let me have the final word like in our previous encounters. Even so, I wasn’t expecting for him to grab me by the elbow and pull me back against his body or for Coach to be looking in the opposite direction from us, answering one of the freshman’s many questions which I couldn’t even hear because Jared was whispering into my ear, “If you ever do something like that again, Clark, you’ll regret it. And I don’t mean on this field either. I’m one of the most popular guys at this school. One wrong move and I could make the rest of your high school life very difficult.”

I snorted, “You don’t scare me, Peterson. You’re nothing but talk.” I growled, yanking my arm from his grip, “and you just better hope your grip on my arm doesn’t cause a bruise, I could totally get you for harassment since there are several witnesses to this, and not all of them are chummy with you.” I threatened before I stepped away from him, smacking my ponytailed hair in his face as I went back to my place past Coach who was answering one of the freshman’s question, something about medical records. He had completely missed the whole spat between Jared and me, not that that was bad thing or anything. Since he probably would have spent a few minutes lecturing us about how immature we were acting and how we should be setting a good example for the younger boys. Like I need another person yelling at me for my constant spats with him… it’s not my fault that he’s an immature jackass. Yet, everyone thinks that he acts this way because of me, which is pretty stupid since he acts this way towards any girl who doesn’t immediately fall madly in love with him. But, considering I’m the only one who hasn’t fallen in love with him, maybe they do have a point.

I handed my forms to Coach and he sent me out to first base for fielding drills, along with two boys, neither of which I knew. Though, I did recognize one of them, it was the redhead who had nearly pelted me in the face with an overthrown ball a little while ago. The brunette was a guy I had never actually seen before, but he was cute… in a little boy kind of way.

I didn’t have much time to check out my competition for what I considered my base (I’ve been playing it for years) since both boys let me go first since I was a girl… oh, how very thoughtful of them. If there were more boys out there like them, maybe I wouldn’t have such a cynical opinion about their gender as a whole.

Coach hit the ball to an unknown boy over at third who then threw it effortlessly to me, right into my outstretched glove. The loud smack as it made contact, along with the slight pain that radiated from my palm from the catch, were proof that the throw was hard and I was probably going to have a slight bruise the next day. Though, I was used to that happening, so I wasn’t surprised or bothered by it at all.

I threw it in and went back into position waiting for Coach to hit it again which was over at short, where Jared was waiting. The hit was low, but Jared scooped it up easily before hurdling the ball at me, I could tell he was angry and that he wanted me to fail. The ball was way off course… way to my left and very low to the ground. I knew Jared pretty well and I know that he rarely threw off course, which just proved to me that he had thrown it that way on purpose. I smirked at his antics, he obviously had no idea that since I’ve been playing first base since I was six, I’ve been able to, for some time now, stretch quite far off the base to get any ball without stepping off the bag. The throw was so bad that I was practically in a split before I heard the beautiful sound of the ball smacking into my glove.

I stood up straight, the ball still in my glove, my triumphant smirk widened when I saw the look on Jared’s face. It was one of shock and anger… though; it quickly turned to one of just anger. Man, he looked pissed. Though, I couldn’t understand why, I mean he knew that I could do it, I saw him at several of my softball games last year and I know I did the same thing at least once in one of those games.

“Nice catch, Victoria.” Coach congratulated me, smiling slightly.

“Thank you.” I said, smiling smugly, proud that I was able prove to Jared that I actually had talent.

My antics only seemed to make Jared angrier for his scowl only grew.

“Aw… Peterson, I wouldn’t scowl like that if I were you… it doesn’t suit your face. Plus, it’ll give you wrinkles.”

Thomas, over at third snorted with laughter, making Jared turn his glare on him for the second time that afternoon. “Shut up,” he growled before he turned to face me again, “That was just a lucky catch, Clark… you won’t be able to do it again.”

“Lucky?” I scoffed, “Luck’s got nothing to do with it Peterson. And, you don’t think I’ll be able to do it again? I can do this all afternoon.” I said, throwing the ball back to Coach Wilson and moving aside to allow one of the boys a chance.

“That was a nice catch,” he said awkwardly as I passed him to stand on the sideline.

“Thanks” I smiled.

My response made his face turn the same shade as his hair.

I stood off to the side, next to the other guy and watched as Coach hit a ball to the guy over at second who fumbled slightly before tossing it to first base. I could feel the other boy’s eyes on me which was making me uncomfortable, not to mention quite annoying as well. So, I turned to look at him, about to ask why he was staring so intently at me, but it was his turn at first base and he was replaced by the red head.

We continued this routine for a good fifteen minutes or so with the occasional rude, obnoxious comment from Mr. bigheaded moron over at shortstop, who seemed to have a moronic comment about something I did every time I was in position. I did my best to ignore him though, since I wasn’t about him let him get into my head and distract me.

Coach gave us a water break, we all piled into the dugout, and I made sure to get my water bottle out of my bat bag before Jared could get in my way. I took a long swig from it before wiping the sweat from my brow. I wasn’t too tired or thirsty yet, but it was extremely hot outside (even if it was only ten in them morning) and I was going to need the water soon enough.

Jared was standing in the same position he was in early – right in front of my bag – but at least this time, I didn’t need anything out of it so it wasn’t bugging me. I should have known he wouldn’t leave me alone for long though, he took a few gulps from of own water before he started talking to me again.

“You know, I’ve never seen you play any other position besides first base.” Jared said, looking pointedly at me.

“Are you instigating that I can’t play another position?”

He shrugged, “No, just saying that playing first base isn’t that hard.”

I scoffed, “That’s because I’m so good I make it look easy.”

He snorted, “Yea, right.”

“If you think it’s so easy why don’t you try it and see how hard it is then?” I asked

“Because I don’t want to.”

“Really?” I asked, “are you sure it’s not because you’re scared that you might actually suck at it?”

“No, I just don’t feel like it.”

“Right…”

Jared glared at me.

Coach cleared his throat noisily, which ended the little staring contest that we were engaged in, “Can you two please be quiet for five minutes…” he trailed off, glaring at us.

“Yea, sorry,” I mumbled, still glaring at Jared which was really a mistake since I should have been watching Thomas who was whispering fervently into Coach’s ear, his hand covering his mouth so even when I finally looked over I couldn’t read his lips.

Though. I should have known it was not a good thing when a Cheshire like grin passed over Coach’s face and he glanced from me to Jared and back again. And, I realized that Thomas Jackson had just given him an idea, an idea that I had a feeling I was not going to like all that much.

And I was right.

Well, sort of anyway.

I know this is a bad place to leave it, but those of you who know me, know I love a good cliffhanger! I know Jared and Victoria are immature, but they are teenagers who don’t like each other… at all (you’ll learn why later one), and while not all teenagers act like this, I knew quite a few who did when I was in high school. I didn’t really proofread this very well so please point out any glaring errors to me in your reviews! So, I have no idea when I will update, I can say that it will definitely be after I update “Everything I Never Wanted” (I hope) and maybe after “Expect the Unexpected” us updated as well. So, until then… see ya and review!